The wettability of the membrane was determined using sessile drop contact angle measurement. Using dual-coagulation bath system, it was found that membrane with bicontinuous structure tends to have higher water contact angles. This membrane could be produced through short immersion time of 18 wt % PVDF solution in soft nonsolvent bath followed by coagulation in water nonsolvent bath. (C) 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2012″
“Background: This study investigated the relationship between drug use and sex work patterns and sex work income earned among street-based female sex workers (FSWs) in Vancouver, Canada.

Methods: We used data from a sample

of 129 FSWs who used drugs in a prospective buy GDC-0994 cohort (2007-2008), for a total of 210 observations. Bivariate and multivariable linear regression using generalized estimating equations was used to model Quisinostat clinical trial the relationship between explanatory factors and sex work income. Sex work income was log-transformed to account for skewed data.

Results: The

median age of the sample at first visit was 37 years (interquartile range[IQR]: 30-43), with 46.5% identifying as Caucasian, 48.1% as Aboriginal and 5.4% as another visible minority. The median weekly sex work income and amount spent on drugs was $300 (IQR = $100-$560) and $400 (IQR = $150-$780), respectively. In multivariable analysis, for a 10% increase in money spent on drugs, sex work income increased by 1.9% (coeff: 0.20, 95% CIs: AZD1208 ic50 0.04-0.36). FSWs who injected heroin, FSWs with higher numbers of clients and youth compared to older women (<25 versus 25+ years) also had significantly higher sex work income.

Conclusions: This study highlights the important role that drug use plays in contributing to increased dependency on sex work for income

among street-based FSWs in an urban Canadian setting, including a positive dose-response relationship between money spent on drugs and sex work income. These findings indicate a crucial need to scale up access and availability of evidence-based harm reduction and treatment approaches, including policy reforms, improved social support and economic choice for vulnerable women. (C) 2011 Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd.”
“Background: Latinos have become the largest minority group in the United States and will represent 25% of the US population by 2050. Latinos experience a disproportionate burden of poverty and poor health outcomes.

Objectives: We critically examined the evidence for a link between acculturation and health disparities in Latinos with a focus on type 2 diabetes (T2D) and nutrition-related risk factors and illustrated how acculturation principles can help design a culturally appropriate T2D self-management intervention in Latinos.